Robinson steps up comeback

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson claims he has taken a huge step on his comeback trail after playing a public game for the first time in over 12 months for Blackburn's Under-21s on Monday night.

Robinson, 34, has missed a year of action after undergoing a back operation and later developing a blood clot on his lung.

The road to return has been long and hard for Robinson, who played in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week prior to Monday's appearance for Rovers' youngsters against Middlesbrough.

"It is nice to be playing, it has been a long, long time," the goalkeeper told Blackburn's official website.

"It is just nice to be back out on the pitch again, it is nice to be playing.

"I was looking forward to the game more than anything, I played a game at the training ground last week but didn't really get much out of it to be fair as it was played in difficult conditions and not a lot in it. But I feel I got a lot out of the game (against Middlesbrough), this is what I've been waiting for."

While acknowledging that a return to competitive football is a major development, Robinson is cautious when it comes to circling a date in the calendar for his first-team return.

Robinson, who has not played for Blackburn's first team since December 7 2012, added: "It is a huge step, it is almost exactly 12 months since I last played, for somebody in my position it is difficult not to have played for 12 months.

"I've gradually built up my training and my fitness work, I've worked really hard with the goalkeepers and the goalkeeping coach to get my bearings again, to get my goalkeeping fitness again - because it is a completely different fitness - then integrated back in the team with small-sided games. Then the next step was to play in a full game.

"I'm almost there, it is just that final bit, I need to keep pushing and working hard and hopefully it will come.

"I feel good, I don't want to put a time or a date on it or anything, but I feel good. I'm enjoying my training, I'm absolutely delighted to be playing again and I'll just see how the next couple of weeks go.

"For me it is a big step just getting a game. I'll play as many games as I can at the moment."

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t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.